Sometimes I wish I could work with athletes for free. Unfortunately, the timeframe many athletes stay in a program is dictated by finances. I would love to never have finances be an issue, but we all have bills to pay, want to make a living for our families, and need to pay staff. So the fees exist.
The other dilemma is the marketing of a program to get people in your door so you can train them. I am a big believer in doing what my athletes and clients need. I have studied and understand training very well. I know what will work. But because parents and athletes watch ESPN and see athletes train or they hear about some other program performing a fancy training technique, they think that is what they need.
I am sure I have lost clients or potential clients because I won’t jeopardize my integrity. Although, I have learned to play the game a little. I will give a little to get a lot more. In other words, I will do some things they want, but because I do so much more of what they need, I get the correct results anyway.
The bottom line is it is all about the athletes or adults clients seeing safe and good results. It is not about the newest shiny machine or fancy program that makes you work so hard you have to move around in a wheelchair for the next week due to soreness. It is about good healthy results and improved performance. There is either a right way or a wrong way.
So when you have a new client telling you, the expert, what they want to do when they train with you, what are you going to do? It is a difficult question sometimes, but if you believe in your profession and doing things the right way the answer is quite simple.
Respect the fitness profession!
Its amazing what clients and potential clients think they need. I’m certified through the IYCA as a youth fitness and speed agility and quickness. Along with certifications from NASM and a former college basketball player. I have witnessed parents who think the only way to improve whether its basketball skills, speed and agility is through extremely intense workouts. They do not understand that its a science behind everything and through education and experience I have design the regimens according to the needs of the athlete. They would rather you run the kids to death and that’s a good workout for them. I call these types of trainers “maintainer” because they do not progress the skill level of the athlete and meeting them where they are currently. The kid stays the same skill-wise and only improve in their cardiovascular system. I have lost a number of athletes due to this, because I refuse to jeopardize my integrity as a basketball skill trainer or fitness professional. But I have witnessed this in a variety of arenas in youth sports/training.
DWalk
I definitely agree with you Lee! There are so many “toys” that are being marketed to strength coaches and business owners that the temptation to buy everything sometimes usurps the fundamental concepts of teaching, developing and implementing irrespective of how much “stuff” you have. Plus, with so much competition targeting youth athletes, the average person may be sucked into a facility that has all the bells and whistles but does not provide the correct instruction and/or the results necessary for optimal success.
I interview the client -I explain my philosophy- I listen to their needs- I briefly describe the way we will achieve their goals- I show them my equipment and extol my past successes- I believe in my training methods and expect them to follow my direction. The End.
This is a great question, Lee. The number one rule in training has always been, ‘Give the client what s/he wants.’ The ethical problem we face is that we often know that what the client asks for is not necessarily what the client needs. Most clients/athletes come in with an injury or nagging problem related to a repeated poor motion pattern, which we know will take some time to resolve. I’ve found that the best approach is to have a frank discussion with the client, explaining that we are absolutely going to be working toward her goals, and what the workouts will include. The conversation is an opportunity to field any questions about what we will be doing (or not doing) and why.
Keep up the great work, Lee. Hope to see you at the IYCA Summit!
Andrew
Well said Lee! Parents and most of the times the young athletes want to strap on harnesses or parachutes on the first day….even though they have terrible technique. Or do depth jumps on the second day.
Thanks for another great post Lee.
Keep ‘em coming.
K.Ó.
Lee: Another great article! We now live, work, and train in an world where more information (good and bad) is availabe from more sources (good and bad) than ever. Much of this information our clients have seen or heard about and believe that is the “program” for them. As such, our integrity and ethos is often challenged. I have lost several clients because of this, but your article will be very helpful, i.e. I will give a little to get a lot more. Thanks, Steve
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